Circuit controlling device



Oct. 20, 1936. H. F. OBERGFELL 2,057,911

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Nov. 12, 1934 v INVENTR. HERBERT F .OBERGFELL BY WM ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Herbert F. Obergfell, River Forest, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Associated Electric 7 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to circuit controlling devices, and more in particular to devices of this character which include a counting function which is necessary in order to properly co-relate a sequence of operations with a related sequence in respect of their numerical values. The object may be stated to be the production of a simple and highly efllcient mechanical device of this character.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side view of the device, Fig. 2 is a front view, and Figs. 3 and 4 are schematic circuit diagrams illustrating how the device may be used in practice.

As shown in Fig. 2, the device comprises two stepping mechanisms supported in a common frame. The left-hand stepping mechanism, Fig. 2, also shown in Fig. 1, comprises essentially a magnet 2, an armature 3, a pawl 4, a ratchet wheel 5, and a holding detent 6. The righthand stepping mechanism is the same. The mechanical construction may be substantially the same as shown in U. S. patent to Erickson, No. 1,794,888, granted March 3, 1931. Hence it will not be necessary to go further into details.

There is a shaft l0 extending transversely of the frame as seen in Fig. 2. The ratchet wheel 5 is rotatably supported on the shaft l0 and has a hub on which are mounted certain circuit elements. These comprise two slip rings l4 and I5 and two contact springs 16 and I1. Spring I6 is electrically connected with slip ring l5 and spring I! with slip ring M.

Connections are extended to the two slip rings I4 and I! by means of two brushes i8 and i9, seen clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. These enable the springs I6 and H to be rotated always in the same direction.

The ratchet wheel i2 0! the right-hand stepping mechanism is also rotatably mounted on shaft II, and has a hub H, on which is secured an arm l3.- This arm carries an insulating bushing 2|, which in the normal position 01 the device lies between and separates the two contact springs l6 and i1.

It will be seen now that if the left-hand stepping mechanism is operated, the hub carrying springs I. and i1 will be rotated, so that on the Russ-urn by some agency, usually related to the operation which has been initiated, with the result that the hub ll carrying arm l3 will be rotated, and in the same direction as springs l6 and i1. When the steps taken by the right-hand mechanism equal: those taken by the left-hand mechanism the bushing 20 will again separate springs l6 and. I1 and the circuit including brushes i8 and I! will be opened.

The utility of the device will be better appreciated by consideration of several circuit arrangements in which it is used. These arrangements shown in Figs. 3 and 4, will now be described briefly.

Fig. 3 shows a scheme for automatically starting and stopping an escalator. The reference character 30 indicates the'escalator, and 3| is a motor for driving it. At the foot of the escalator there is arranged a treadle or hinged step 32 in such a way that each passenger seeking to use the escalator must necessarily pass over it. Upon being depressed by the weight of a person stepping on it, the treadle 32 will close a circuit for magnet 2, which is the stepping magnet of the left-hand stepping mechanism shown in Fig. 2. At the top of the escalator there is a similar treadle 33, which is momentarily depressed by each person leading it. The treadle 23 controls a circuit for magnet 2i, which is the stepping magnet of the right-hand stepping mechanism shown in Fig. 2. There is also a relay 34, which controlsthe motor II. Relay 34 is included in circuit with the springs l6 and II. To simplify the drawing, the slip ring connections to these springs have been omitted.

Assume now that people approach the escalator to be carried up to the next floor. As each person passes over treadle 32 an impulse is trans.- mitted to magnet 2 and after each impulse terminates the ratchet wheel 5 and hub carrying springs Ii and I! will be advanced one step. Upon the first step being completed, the springs l6 and H will close, and the circuit of relay 34 will be completed. Relay 3! accordingly pulls up I,

and starts motor 3|. The escalator is now running- As the passengers arrive at the top, each of them will step on treadle 33, thus sending an impulse to stepping magnet 2|. The right-hand stepping mechanism therefore begins to operate also and the ratchet l2 and hub II will rotate arm lit in pursuit of the springs l6 and i1. .As long as passengers keep on arriving at the escalator close enough together so that there is always someone on it, the number of steps taken by the left-hand stepping mechanism will be greater and I1.

than the number taken by the right-hand mechanism, and springs l8 and I! will remain closed. However, in a period when no more passengers arrive, impulses to magnet 2 will cease, but the impulses to magnet 2| will continue until all the passengers have left the escalator. When the last passenger leaves, the impulses received by the two stepping magnets 2 and 2| will be equal, and the arm l3 will catch up with springs l6 and I1, separating them again by means of bushing 20. This deenergizes relay 34 and stops the escalator.

Referring now to Fig. 4, this circuit drawing shows how the invention may be used as the essential part of an automatic regenerative impulse repeater. In the drawing 44 is a conductor over which incoming impulses are received, while 45 is the conductor over which it is desired to transmit a corresponding number of outgoing impulses. Also 42 is an impulse generating relay. The other parts are the same as explained hereinbeiore and bear the same reference numbers. The arrangement requires, however, that the stepping magnet 2| be supplied with a pair of break contact springs, labeled 40 and 4|, for controlling the circuit of relay 42.

Assume now that a series of impulses is received over conductor 44. Magnet 2 responds and rotates springs i6 and I1 step by step. When the first step is completed, springs i6 and I1 make contact, completing a circuit for relay 42. This relay energizes and closes a circuit for stepping magnet 2|. Upon energizing, magnet 2| opens the circuit of relay 42 at contact springs 40 and 4|. Relay 42 therefore falls back and breaks the magnet circuit, with the result that the magnet is deenergized to advance ratchet l2 and arm l3, and again close springs 40 and 4|. This operation continues as long as springs i6 and I1 remain closed, relay 42 and magnet 2| functioning as an automatic stepping arrangement. Each time relay 42 operates it sends an impulse over outgoing conductor 45.

Assuming now that the incoming impulses cease, the advance of springs i6 and I! will stop. The operation of magnet 2| and relay 42 will continue, however, until the arm l3 brings its bushing 20 into position to separate springs Ii When this occurs the number of impulses transmitted over the outgoing conductor 45 will equal the number received over incoming conductor 44.

In a repeater as described in the foregoing, the transmission of impulses starts at once, but the arrangement is also cz iable of use in register sender systems for example where the transmission has to be delayed. It is merely necessary to insert a normally open contact in the circuit of relay 42, as for instance at the point X, which contact is closed by appropriate means at the time the transmission is to start. The left-hand stepping mechanism will then function as a register, and the other stepping mechanism will func-- tion as a sender to transmit impulses in accordance with the setting of the register.

Having described the invention, what is considered to be new and is desired to be protected by Letters Patent will be set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a circuit controlling device, two stepping mechanisms, 9. pair of contact members rotated by one mechanism, and means rotated by the other stepping mechanism for mechanically controlling the engagement of said contacts.

2. In a circuit controlling device, a pair of contact members rotatable about an axis, a member controlling the engagement of said contact members and rotatable on the same axis therewith, and two stepping mechanisms for rotating said contact members and said controlling member, respectively.

3. A circuit controlling device as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the provision of brushes and slip rings for extending connections to the contact members, whereby said members may always be rotated in the samedirection.

4. In a circuit controlling device, a pair of contact members rotatable about an axis, a control member rotatable about the same axis and having means for separating said contact members when the angular position of the control member bears a predetermined relation to the position of the contact members, means for advancing the contact members to a new position, thereby closing said contact members, and means for advancing said control member a like amount to again open said contact members.

5. In a. circuit controlling device, two rotatable elements having a common axis of rotation, means for rotating either element independent of the other, a circuit adapted to be completed through the first element and excluding any portion of the second element, and non-conducting means included in the second element arranged to open said circuit when the angular positions of said elements correspond to equal degrees of rotation.

6. In a circuit controlling device, a ratchet wheel, an electromagneticzlly actuated armature and paw] for driving said wheel, a second ratchet wheel, an electromagnetically actuated armature and pawl for driving said second ratchet wheel, a pair of contact springs attached to said first wheel but insulated therefrom, and a member attached to said second wheel for separating said contact springs.

7. In a circuit controlling device, a shaft, two ratchet wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft, two stepping magnets for supplying power for driving said two ratchet wheels, respectively, a pair of contact springs secured to one of said ratchet wheels, 8. member attached to the other ratchet wheel for mechanically separating said contact springs when the said wheels are in positions corresponding to equal degrees of rotation, and means for energizing either stepping magnet independent of the other.

HERBERT F. OBERGFEIL. 

